Boeing said Monday its 777 twin-engined wide-body jet has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for extended operations (ETOPS) flights up to 330 minutes away from the nearest available airport.

The authorization can be useful to airlines flying across remote regions of the south Pacific, over the North Pole, and from Australia to South America and southern Africa. It allows qualifying airlines to fly more direct routes, reducing both fuel burn and travel time.

Previously, the furthest the jet was allowed to go from the nearest airport was 207 minutes. The ETOPS extension is introduced in two stages: Airlines must first operate the planes safely for a year at up to 240 minutes away from the nearest airport before they can move up to 330 minutes.

Earlier this month, Air New Zealand became the first airline to fly a 240-minute ETOPS flight, from Los Angeles to Auckland, N.Z.

The 330-minute ETOPS certification follows test flights to establish the reliability of the airplane, which can safely operate with just one engine for that extended period.

Any airline wishing to fly such flights requires its own FAA approval, showing that its training and processes are appropriate and that it has installed additional fire suppression equipment.

Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or dgates@seattletimes.com